Epping voters faced with important questions

EPPING — On March 11, Epping residents will be asked to vote on measures intended to ensure the town's water supply, provide for the safety of its school-aged population, and restore a town treasure.

KATHLEEN D. BAILEY

EPPING — On March 11, Epping residents will be asked to vote on measures intended to ensure the town's water supply, provide for the safety of its school-aged population, and restore a town treasure.

Article 7 asks voters to raise and appropriate $2,300,000 for the purchase of 75 acres with five existing water wells at Epping Crossing, and to authorize the issuance of a 20-year bond for $2,300,000.

Half of the bond payment each year will be funded by water rates and user fees, and 50 percent of water connection fees will be used for repayment.

The article marks the fourth time the town has attempted to buy the land, which is located behind the Walmart Supercenter. Proposals were rejected in 2013, 2011 and 2010.

In August 2013, Christine Bowman, a hydrogeologist with the Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau, Department of Environmental Services, wrote to the town regarding the three Hoar Pond wells. Bowman wrote, "Groundwater level monitoring data collected in Hoar Pond Well 3 by Epping and submitted to DES on Aug. 3, indicates that the existing sources may not be capable of providing their projected production volumes and that the need for additional supply may be more critical."

Bowman continued, "DES recommends that Epping consider any available alternatives to reduce demand on the Hoar Pond wells or otherwise change their current use pattern."

Bowman recommended the following: expanding Epping's efforts to limit discretionary water use across the system, particularly during high demand summer months; implementing an aggressive well maintenance and rehabilitation program for Hoar Pond wells 2 and 3; or exploring and permitting other sources that would enable Epping to alternate the Hoar Pond use with other wells.

Henry DeBoer, chairman of the Water Commissioners, said the votes in the past have been "close" and the majority of the town seemed to want more water.

What's different now? The need for water, he said. "After the DES review, they came to the conclusion that Hoar Pond was not as viable as we thought. It will last longer if it's not our only supply."

Also, DeBoer said, the commission is working with more information than it had in the past, and "People have come to understand what a valuable resource water is."

The funding mechanism is different this time around, DeBoer said. In the previous attempts, 50 percent of the connection fees were to be dedicated to the bond, with the remainder of the bond to be borne by taxpayers. This plan would have a greater share borne by the water users, he said.

"With the residential and commercial growth added to the town since 2004, we need more town water," DeBoer said. "If we don't get the water, while there will still be some growth, it won't be the kind we'd have with an adequate water supply."

The town is also in preliminary talks with Brentwood about supplying some of that town's water needs, which would be a boost in revenue," DeBoer said. "Their connection fee would go a long way toward paying our bond."

Article 7 requires a 3/5 ballot vote. It was recommended by both the selectmen and the Budget Committee.

Article 15 asks the town to raise and appropriate $36,740 to hire a full-time police officer to serve as a school resource officer. The appropriation would pay for salary and benefits for six months. The total cost is $194,370,000 for three years, of which $125,000 would be paid for by a federal COPS hiring grant. The grant requires the retention of the officer for one year after the expiration of the grant.

Police Chief Michael Wallace explained that this article is reinstating a past position. "We had an SRO in 2002, but the position was eliminated when one of our officers was called up for military duty," Wallace said. "We had to take the SRO out of the schools to replace him."

Wallace said the biggest reason for reinstating the SRO position is to have that officer act as a resource and role model for students. And it should be full-time, he added. "With the growth of the town, both residential and commercial, I can't dedicate time at the school with the staff we have," he said.

Wallace has an officer in mind, the appropriately-named Officer Russ Hero, and has already sent him to SRO training. Hero will be cross-trained in many areas and certified to teach DARE, Wallace said.

He has talked with school resource officers in surrounding communities and said, "I think if you reach out to an SRO, each one will provide you with a story about how they've positively impacted student life. It's not all about preventing crime — it's also about being a positive role model for students and the community."

Though some towns are looking twice at grants because they have to pay the person after the grant expires, Wallace said he hasn't received any push-back from the community. Epping hired another officer two years ago who was grant-funded, he said.

This was recommended by both selectmen and Budget Committee.

Article 18 asks voters to raise $25,000 for the purpose of having an engineering study, with stamped drawings and specifications, for the repair of Watson Academy. The sum would come from fund balance, with no increase to the tax rate.

Watson Academy, one of the town's original schoolhouses, was damaged during the October 2012 earthquake. The building has since been closed to the public. While a "Save Watson Academy" group formed last year and various estimates received for repair, the selectmen, with advice from the police and fire chiefs, chose to raise money for a formal engineering study with stamped drawings before proceeding any further.

This was recommended by both selectmen and budget committee.

In addition, voters will be asked to approve an operating budget of $6,590,001. The default budget is $6,354,151. The budget is Article 8 on the warrant.

The School District proposed budget is $17,535,139, with a default budget of $17,543,491.

The polls will be open Tuesday, March 11, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Epping Middle School gym.

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